This verse is part of my memory passage right now, and today it really stuck out to me.
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory…
Romans 11:36 (KJV, TLB)
Everything comes from God.
The sun kissing your face, the laughter shared with friends and family, the pretty flowers, the ability to see and hear and taste and smell and talk and feel and walk, the hugs that little children give–it’s all from Him. He delights in giving us gifts and joyful moments.
The dark nights, the tears, the pain, the loneliness, the death of a loved one, the disease–it’s not necessarily from Him, but it did have to pass before Him and be given permission before it could happen. He doesn’t like to see us hurting, but sometimes it’s necessary so that we will grow closer to Him and His plan will be fulfilled.
Everything that is living lives because of Him. He created us and gives us breath and keeps our hearts beating, allowing us to live thus far. He often protects us from dying (even if we don’t realize it). And Christians have even more life–life everlasting!
Everything is (should be) to Him. Whether we’re working (school, chores around the house, actual job, etc.) or having fun/hanging out with family/friends (or just ourselves 🙂), we should be doing it to Him, for Him.
Everything is for His glory. When you get baptized and join a church, when a friend or family member strays, when a loved one dies, when someone is miraculously healed, when your life is going good and you’re on fire for Jesus, when everything seems to be going wrong and your soul feels dead–it’s all for God’s glory. It’s all a part of His plan; He has a reason. Someday–maybe not now, but someday–He will be glorified because of those things.
The verse doesn’t mention this, but God is everything we could ever need. He is a constant Friend. He is the perfect Father. He is our Savior. He is the Provider, Deliverer, Refuge, Living Water, Great Physician, Heart Collector, Peace Giver, Mighty to Save–on and on and on. He’s always there, always ready to forgive, always loving.
All things come from God, must be granted permission by God, are given life by God, should be done to/for God, and is for God’s glory. And the Ruler of the universe Himself is everything we could possibly need or want. 😊
Hallelujah! 🙂